NEWSLETTER BROUGHT TO YOU BY DESCARTES

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Hey, everyone. Christmas is just two weeks away, and peak season is in full swing.

I’m Thomas Wasson, writing this week’s What the Truck?!? Newsletter. Malcolm is on a much-deserved vacation but will return next week.

In the meantime, there’s been quite a bit of news. We have everything from the Department of Transportation, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration and all the other multi-letter acronyms battling it out as regulators and policies clash.

This newsletter will be shorter but pack the same punch. We’ll dive into what I think were the top stories this week and catch up on the most recent episodes now on demand.

Stay safe and have a merry Christmas!

-Thomas

Here are this week’s eye-catching headlines

Feds call out New York as ‘worst offender’ of illegal CDLs

(Photo: DOT)

This one is wild. Early Friday morning, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy put New York on blast. A federal audit found that New York state issued unlawful or illegal commercial driver’s licenses, valid up to eight years, to foreign applicants with expired visas or work authorizations. It’s a big deal: They found that 53% of more than 32,000 non-domiciled CDLs were improperly issued.

This follows Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration audits targeting other states, including California, Minnesota and Washington. What happens next is hard to tell. The emergency rulemaking that put non-domiciled CDLs on hold is held up in court. And it’s a patchwork of states, each with its own CDL standards. Expect more bureaucratic versions of “whack-a-mole” while the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration audits more states to build its case in court.

Is Texas Quietly Downgrading Non-Domiciled CDLs? — Here’s What We Actually Know So Far

(Photo: Jim Allen/FreightWaves)

Speaking of states targeting non-domiciled CDL holders, we’re turning our attention to Texas and Adam Wingfield’s great reporting. Social media feeds were ablaze over the past week, circulating images of drivers receiving letters that their non-domiciled commercial learner’s permit or CDL has been canceled effective immediately, citing non-compliance with federal regulations.

Remember my earlier commentary: The compliance details are tied up in court, but the threats to withhold funding are very real — as Texas learned earlier when the then-Biden administration threatened to pull its funding in 2021 after the state first raised the alarm over non-domiciled CDL holders with expired or absent permits.

This looks more like a bureaucratic rulemaking review than outright politics. Texas was one of the first to sound the alarm about fraudulent CDLs, notably those coming from Mexico. One lingering question is what happens while the courts sort out the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s ability to bypass traditional rulemaking structures. Until then, it’s up to a patchwork of states to enforce their rules while being threatened with Department of Transportation funding if they step out of line.

9,500 truck drivers sidelined for English-language violations, DOT chief says

(Photo: Jim Allen/FreightWaves)

The number of drivers sidelined for failing English-language requirements is over 9,000. It’s more than 9,500 to be somewhat exact, but if you look at the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration data, it’s closer to 8,953. It’s a fuzzy number — and even fuzzier when you look at whether these out-of-service violations stick. I’ve heard many fleets will simply bring in a driver who can speak English, pick up the truck and put the driver who can’t back in the original truck. Like swapping out rigs.

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy noted on the X platform that the crackdown is a highway-safety initiative as he continues to build his case behind the English-language proficiency and non-domiciled CDL crackdowns.

FreightWaves’ Noi Mahoney has done some great writing on the topic, interviewing Grace Maher, COO of OTR Solutions, who noted that many of these entries the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration is citing represent warnings or citations, not actual out-of-service orders. Mahoney writes: “Maher and others argue that blending violations with out-of-service orders inflates the severity of the enforcement campaign and masks the real, structural problems affecting the trucking market.”

“These citations can be warnings. That difference is still very black and white,” she told FreightWaves in a report published Friday. “If it was as rampant as everyone acts like, where are the pictures of the trucks on the road?”

Hustle and Haul

In this episode of What the Truck?!?, host Malcolm Harris sits down with three industry leaders to break down the latest trends shaping freight, fleet operations and the trailer marketplace.

First, Jake Johnson of RTA shares his journey from diesel technician to fleet success manager and explains how data, automation and smarter technology can reduce downtime, control costs and improve fleet performance.

Next, Corey Klujsza of RXO unpacks the newest Curve Report with insights into rate volatility, spot vs. contract dynamics, capacity exits, cost pressures and early signals from peak season. Corey also discusses what fleets, brokers and drivers should prepare for heading into 2026.

Finally, Colin Osborne from REPOWR joins in studio to dive into trailer access, guided search technology, AI-powered matching and why equipment is becoming as on-demand as freight. Colin highlights how carriers — especially small fleets — can leverage smarter tools to stay efficient and competitive.

🎥 Watch here

Optimizing the Open Road

On this episode of What the Truck?!?, host Malcolm Harris dives into a packed lineup covering the latest issues shaping freight, technology and trucking regulation.

We kick things off with Rudy Nemeth of Velocitor Solutions, who breaks down how AI is transforming fleet management through predictive maintenance, smarter safety systems and advanced route optimization following their recent acquisition of NextBillion.ai.

Next, Magnus Technologies CEO Matt Cartwright joins the show to talk about the real roots of the driver shortage, why it’s a systemic issue rather than a people problem, and how empathy, communication and integrated technology platforms can dramatically improve driver satisfaction and retention. He also shares insights from decades in the industry and why unifying data is the key to modern fleet operations.

To wrap up, Andrew Poliakoff, executive director of CVTA, gives an inside look at the state of driver training, the federal crackdown on fraudulent training providers, and what fleets, students and schools need to know about compliance, safety and upcoming regulatory changes. He explains why proper training matters now more than ever and what red flags new drivers should watch for.

Malcolm also covers major news across the country, including Mississippi’s crackdown on undocumented drivers, the abrupt shutdown of two Minnesota carriers affecting 200 drivers, and an Ohio logistics owner sentenced for a multimillion-dollar tax evasion scheme.

🎥 Watch here

In this special festive edition of What the Truck?!?, host Malcolm Harris brings you a packed episode live from the 2026 Freight Market Summit.

First, Malcolm sits down with Sarah Abernathy, director of marketing and communications at Kenworth Truck Company. Sarah shares the behind-the-scenes story of one of trucking’s most heartwarming annual traditions: hauling the U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree across the country. She discusses Kenworth’s 12-year partnership with the project, the state-to-state community engagement, and the technology behind the Kenworth T680 that carried this year’s tree, “Silverbell,” from Nevada to Washington, D.C. Sarah also highlights the role of driver Michael Porter, the significance of the tour, and what Kenworth is looking forward to in 2026.

Later in the episode, Malcolm welcomes Zane Holcomb and Luke LeMaster from TEL to talk about becoming an owner-operator in today’s freight market. They break down what drivers should expect, why now can still be a smart time to step into ownership, how TEL supports drivers throughout their leases, and the mindset needed to build a successful owner-operator business. They also discuss technology trends, equipment choices, common challenges, and the changing landscape of driver mentorship

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Plus, Malcolm covers the latest industry headlines, including:

• A logistics startup founder losing an appeal on a 20-year conviction for misconduct and diverting funds
• New tariff discussions involving the U.S. and Mexico over disputed water delivery under a 1944 treaty
• Enterprise officially entering the heavy-truck space through its Hogan acquisition
• The ongoing voting for America’s Top Freight Town

🎥 Watch here